Monday, December 11, 2017

#MicroblogMondays: White Christmas

Right now, it is -5C with a windchill of -12C (that is 23F and 11F for those of you south of the border) -- and it's snowing outside. We've had a few flakes in the air over the past few weeks, but nothing that's stuck. I think that's about to change. ;) And in my humble opinion, it's about time. ;) After all, Christmas is just two weeks away!

I was talking to my mother last night, and she said there's very little snow on the ground there so far -- although that is very likely to change by the time the big day arrives. December here in southern Ontario can often be green (if not particularly warm) -- but I have spent every Christmas of my life with my family, on the Canadian Prairies where I grew up, where a white Christmas is practically guaranteed. I can only remember two Christmases where we didn't have snow on the ground. The last time was in 1997 -- my beloved grandfather was still alive then (although he was gone by the next Christmas :( ). He was then 85 years old, and my mother asked if he could remember another Christmas without snow. He couldn't.

I know a lot of people moan and groan about the snow and cold -- and believe me, it does get pretty old by the time it disappears, usually sometime in March. (I loathe February and would happily accept a trip to the Caribbean or Florida or Hawaii then.)

But I can't imagine Christmas without snow. I've often said that if I ran the universe, it would start snowing on Dec. 1st, and then all the snow would magically disappear around Jan. 31st.

4 comments:

The snow that they are loathing is a dream for us living in the tropics. I could not even afford spending Christmas in a nice resort with my husband to escape the holidays. This year, still doing the same thing, go with the flow and join everyone and just let everyone's kids come to us for Christmas gifts. Everyone's children but ours! Ah :(

I love a white Christmas... it looks like we're going to get one this year what with the 10-14 inches of snow coming by Wednesday night apparently! Of course it could melt, but I have high hopes. It's been too warm on Christmas for my tastes. I feel like if it's going to be cold, it should be pretty. Love the snow, at least until February... then I'm probably sick of it. (Seems we're of like minds there!)

I love snow! It covers all the brown and dull with a magical blanket that adds needed silence to the world. Granted, it can get old. But after going through a few winters without snow, I know I prefer it.

About Me

Our baby girl was stillborn in August 1998 when I was six months pregnant, after 13 years of marriage & 2.5 years ttc. Subsequent infertility treatments did not work for us and in 2001, at age 40, my dh & I decided to take the road less travelled and continue to live without children, much as we had wanted them. This blog is about our journey (which now includes early retirement and condo living!).

Do you know me in "real life?"

If you are a friend or relative who has somehow found this blog... ummm... hi there! ; ) I realize that nothing on the Internet is truly private, and that, so long as this blog is public, I cannot stop you from reading it.

However -- I did not start writing this blog with with the idea that people I know "in real life" would be reading it -- and I would be grateful if you did not read any further. My blog is primarily about infertility and pregnancy loss, and how they have affected my life -- my experiences, thoughts and feelings. It has always (well, until now...) been a "safe" and invaluable outlet where I can deal with some deeply painful, personal stuff -- things are difficult for me to speak about openly -- and connect with others in a similar situation.

Whatever you do, I would very much appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone else that we both know about this blog. Thank you for respecting my wishes and my privacy.

Header design

Photo & header design by Melissa Ford

Epigraph

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.

-- Robert Frost

Favourite quotes

"Life is what happens while you're making other plans." -- John Lennon

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." -- Joseph Campbell

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity." -- Gilda Radner